Fall Planting Has Begun
I was surprised to receive a package in the mail today from McClure and Zimmerman. I had placed an order with them for bulbs which I was expecting to arrive late September/early October. This turned out to be iris.
I'm rapidly becoming an iris addict. I've ordered quite a few new iris for my gardens. But I wasn't expecting them this early. In the past, iris has always arrived with the fall-planted bulbs. It makes sense that iris would be sent now for planting. This is the time when you should be dividing and replanting your iris.
Now I have a dilemna. This iris is supposed to be planted in my new bed. I thought it would arrive in the fall after the annuals that are planted there now would be finished for the year. My plan was to pull them out and then plant the iris and other bulbs I had ordered for this bed. Even though this bed turned out to be a disappointment, I don't want to disturb the flowers that are there now. It's much too hot still to be transplanting things.
These are the iris that arrived today:
I'm rapidly becoming an iris addict. I've ordered quite a few new iris for my gardens. But I wasn't expecting them this early. In the past, iris has always arrived with the fall-planted bulbs. It makes sense that iris would be sent now for planting. This is the time when you should be dividing and replanting your iris.
Now I have a dilemna. This iris is supposed to be planted in my new bed. I thought it would arrive in the fall after the annuals that are planted there now would be finished for the year. My plan was to pull them out and then plant the iris and other bulbs I had ordered for this bed. Even though this bed turned out to be a disappointment, I don't want to disturb the flowers that are there now. It's much too hot still to be transplanting things.
These are the iris that arrived today:
Beverly Sills
Bride's Halo
Mesmerizer
Stairway to HeavenAll are Dykes Medal winners. Fancy, shmancy! I've also ordered miniature iris and English iris to be planted in other beds.
posted by OldRoses @ 4:39 PM
11 Comments:
I'm becoming an iris addict as well. They don't last long, but when they're at their peak they are just so beautiful. I love the Beverly Sills and Bride's Halo the best, although all of them are pretty and will look beautful together.
I believe that if you put the iris corms/bulbs? in the fridge (like the veggie drawer) they should be OK until fall. Or in the cool, dark corner of a shed/garage.
I'll tell you what I do when I get stock that I either don't know where I want it right away or can't get it in there right away - I plant them in one of the planters that I saved from the nursery grown plants that I buy. This gets them started growing while they are waiting for their spot.
And irises are EASY transplanters! Back in June I dug out some irises from a foundation planter and threw them into a bucket to bring to the front bed. I never got around to planting them as intended. They are still sitting in that bucket and doing just fine!
I had another bunch that I was digging from a front bed and bringing to the back bed. As I got them to the back I just laid them on the ground near where I was intending to plant them. I got distracted and didn't get back to them for almost a week - they were still just sitting on top of the soil but doing just fine.
How do you like Mclure and Zimmerman? I ordered from them for the first time this year. From the quality of the catalog (e.g. no glossy, enhanced photos and no use of superlatives in the text), they seem reputable.
Love them Iris:) I think I ordered Beverly Sills also. Brides Halo has me drooling.
I've only had a few irises through the years, but you all are tempting me!
Count me in as an iris fan! I can't wait to get a progress report as your new irises make their way in the garden. I nearly ordered an iris collection earlier in the season from Schreiners Gardens. --http://www.schreinersgardens.com/ I like their website but have no idea what the quality would be. I snail mailed for their catalog and it is wonderful to browse and dream with.
I love iris they say hello very early in the year and get the gardening juices flowing. I am glad you mentioned that I can divide them now. Maybe I will put one in a planter on my deck since I seem to have so many.
I just can't seem to get into a love for the iris other than in my pond.I feel the same about the hosta flower I cut them off leaving only the foliage to admire.To each his own I suppose.Roses and cats we do have in common. :>)
Kasmira, my experience with McClure & Zimmerman though not extensive is excellent. I didn't start keeping records of my orders until last year so I can only tell you that I ordered two different green daffodils from them last fall and both came up beautifully, one of them was actually green! The Actaea daffodils were also spectacular. The only disappointment was the martagon lily and that was not their fault. A squirrel or squirrel(s) ate the shoot that started to come up. This year I ordered the iris, some English iris that is supposed to do well in the shade, feather hyacinths, guinea hen flowers and some gregii tulips (Red Riding Hood). Results will be posted next spring!
I've wanted "Stairway to Heaven" for a long time. I think I'm over irises now.
To answer some other peoples' comments--I've ordered many irises from Schreiners and have always been pleased with the size and condition of the rhizomes.
Also McClure and Zimmerman was the very first catalog that I ordered bulbs from and still shop there for all sorts of odd heirloom bulbs that are hard to find elsewhere. I've always been very pleased with them as well.
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